Chicago Grandmother Sentenced To 44 Years For Orchestrating Acid Attack

CHICAGO (CBS/WBBM/AP) A Chicago grandmother was sentenced to 44 years in prison for orchestrating an acid attack against social worker Esperanza Medina, who reportedly became romantically involved with the assailant's ex-boyfriend.

Cook County Circuit Judge Nicholas Ford on Monday sentenced 60-year-old Ofelia Garcia to one year less than the 45-year maximum.

Garcia was convicted of heinous battery in the July 2008 attack on Medina, which left her severely disfigured.

Another woman, 37-year-old Maria Olvera-Garcia, was found guilty by a separate jury of three counts of heinous battery in the same case.

Prosecutors contended Olvera-Garcia and Garcia were angry about a man Medina was dating and allegedly drove three teens to Medina's Chicago neighborhood to carry out the attack.

Medina, a mother of four, was preparing to get into her car when the teens walked up and poured the liquid on her, according to CBS affiliate WBBM. A woman heard Medina's piercing screams and rushed to help.

"I just remember saying, 'I'm going to faint,' and that's all I remember. That's when time stopped," said Medina according to the Chicago Tribune.

The social worker suffered third-degree burns on 25 percent of her body and had multiple skin grafts.